[Histonet] Periodic acid versus chromic acid for GMS staining

[Gayle Callis]

Caveat:  Periodic acid may not be the acceptable oxidizing agent for fungus
staining, there is a publication on this by Freida Carson with Jerry
Fredenburgh in J of Histotechnology a few years back.  Periodic acid is not
strong enough to do the job i.e. oxidation on fungal components.  One can
get false negative results.  A lot of people use this, but may not be aware
of problems one can have doing GMS with periodic acid oxidation - it works
fine for basement membrane staining in 2 um kidney sections i.e. Jones
methenamine silver, but for accurate results, chromic acid may be the
better choice for fungus work. There was a huge discussion on Histonet on
this subject a few years back. 

Also, you still have to collect the silver solution as hazardous waste so
one more thing should not be too much of a problem. I do feel for those who
have to pay for this collection/waste disposal, we are fortunate our
university picks up that cost.    

 

At 03:03 PM 5/5/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>
>In an attempt to remove hazardous chromic acid from the lab, I vaguely
>remember replacing the Chromic Acid with 5% Periodic acid instead for the
GMS.
>Has anyone else done this?  If my memory serves me correctly - it works
fine -
>but I am old  . . . . er.  (must be from all the teenagers at home).
>
>Jacqueline M. O'Connor HT(ASCP)
>Abbott Laboratories
>Global Pharmaceutical Research and Development
>Discovery Chemotherapeutics
>


Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Research Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology 
Montana State University - Bozeman
PO Box 173610
Bozeman MT 59717-3610
406 994-6367 (lab with voice mail)
406 994-4303 (FAX)